Ambassador: Vietnam-India ties increasingly important to Indo-Pacific

Vietnamese Ambassador Ton Sinh Thanh (centre) at the workshop on Vietnam-India relations in New Delhi on January 9 (Photo: VNA)

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NDO/VNA – Vietnam-India relations have become increasingly important to peace, stability and development of the two countries, as well as peace, security and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, said Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh.

Vietnamese Ambassador Ton Si Thanh made the remark on January 9 while addressing a workshop on India-Vietnam ties amid the changing geopolitical situation in the Indo-Pacific.

The event saw the attendance of scholars and researchers from the University of Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Sri Venkateswara University of India, Indian Council of World Affairs, King’s College London of the UK, Centre for China Analysis and Strategy, along with those from Vietnam.

Vietnamese Ambassador Ton Si Thanh said that although the global and regional situation is complex and unpredictable, peace, cooperation and development are still a common trend, saying that scientific-technological development and globalisation are bringing countries and regions, including the Indo-Pacific, closer in terms of economy and security. The Indo-Pacific region holds an increasingly important role in strategies of many countries, especially major ones, he added.

He noted that the growing importance of Vietnam-India ties comes from the fact that both nations’ economic potential and positions have considerably improved over the last years thanks to their continuous economic growth and proactive foreign policies.

According to the ambassador, India plays a leading role in the Indian Ocean region, while Vietnam holds an important geopolitical position in the Pacific region. They are facing similar opportunities and challenges, he said, noting that both are located in strongly developing regions and they must make use of this opportunity by enhancing cooperation and mutual support so as to develop more rapidly and sustainably.

The participants at the workshop

At the workshop, participants shared a view that in recent years, Vietnam has played an important role in India’s “Act East” policy and been also a crucial partner in sub-regional, regional and multilateral forums. The elevation of their strategic partnership, set up in 2007, to comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016 is a clear demonstration of the importance they attach to this relationship.

Vietnam and India have worked to intensify cooperation in various spheres, including politics, defence-security, trade, energy, science-technology, capacity building, connectivity, health care, education, culture, tourism, people-to-people exchange, and cooperation at international and regional forums, participants said.

The workshop featured four panel discussions, focusing on Vietnam’s position in India’s Act East policy and the bilateral relations in a changing Indo-Pacific structure.